Effect of coenzyme Q₁₀ supplementation on cardiac hypertrophy of male rats consuming a high-fructose, low-copper diet

Abstract

Administration of coenzyme Q₁₀ to humans and animals has a beneficial effect on a number of cardiac diseases. The purpose of the present study was to determine if coenzyme Q₁₀ treatment could ameliorate cardiac abnormalities associated with the carbohydrate × copper interaction in rats. Weanling male rats were provided with a copper-deficient diet (0.6 μg Cu/g) containing either 62.7% starch (S−Cu) or fructose (F−Cu) for 5 wk. Half of the rats provided with the F−Cu diet were given daily oral supplements of 300 mg coenzyme Q₁₀/kg body weight (F−Cu+Q). Heart hypertrophy, liver enlargement, or pancreatic atrophy were not affected by, nor was body growth or anemia improved by, supplementation with coenzyme Q₁₀ when compared to rats fed only the F−Cu diet. Hearts from rats fed the F−Cu diet had severe inflammation, degeneration, fibrosis, and giant mitochondria with abnormal cristae. Hearts from F−Cu+Q rats had similar mitochondrial changes as the F−Cu rat hearts but without any apparent degenerative changes. None of the F−Cu+Q rats, but 30% of the F−Cu rats, died during the study as a result of heart rupture. These observations show that whereas coenzyme Q₁₀ treatment did not prevent the cardiac hypertrophy of the carbohydrate × copper interaction, it did play a role in maintaining the integrity of the heart.